BOZICH | Talking Louisville, Notre Dame, Einstein at SEC Football

Louisville, Notre Dame and Albert Einstein were all topics on the opening day of Southeastern Conference football media days in suburban Birmingham.

HOOVER, Ala. – Day One of Southeastern Conference football media days included talk about the University of Louisville, Notre Dame, Albert Einstein, the Boston Red Sox and a little bit about the SEC, too.

Florida coach Will Muschamp, on what was the most disappointing part of the Gators' Sugar Bowl loss to Louisville: "(I) felt like we lost our composure a little bit in the second half. We hadn't done that all season. We'd been behind eight times and come from behind. That was disappointing."

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, discussing a concern that he said all 14 SEC coaches have with one school in the new playoff system that begins in 2014: "For whatever reason, all 14 of our head coaches thought that Notre Dame should join the ACC and play football like the rest of us. They're in a conference. I know Notre Damers will get mad at me and us coaches maybe for saying that."

Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel, on the contract he signed with the Boston Red Sox this summer, even though he hasn't played baseball for two years: "I was drafted pretty low (29th round) in the draft, so it was an easy choice to stay at Florida. I'm fully committed to playing at Florida. I was going to have to sign within two weeks of when you're drafted, so it's nice to have that to fall back if football doesn't work out, which I hope it does."

Muschamp, on what he advised Driskel after the NCAA said the quarterback could sign the contract and still play football: "Jeff, if you were my son, I'd tell you to sign the contract."

Driskel, on the Gators' loss to Louisville: "It was embarrassing. They tore us up on offense and defense. Louisville played a great game. It's not like we weren't prepared. We were very prepared."

Spurrier, a former Florida coach, when asked if he would turn the Gators in to the NCAA for a recruiting violation some people allege former UF coach Urban Meyer recently did: "If they were obviously doing something, we were obviously doing something, I would hope they'd turn us in. Usually go through the league office is the way."

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, on the recruiting buzz that the Rebels have kicked up: "The momentum that was created around our place from winning the Egg Bowl and the bowl game was huge."

Muschamp, on his reaction to comments from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops that the SEC benefits from considerable non-stop media propaganda: "I never went to a Big 12 media day. If I was Bob, I would say the same thing."

Spurrier, talking about SEC teams playing non-conference games against teams from other BCS leagues: "Louisville, are they in the ACC this year or next year?"

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, on the challenges of moving from the Big 12 to the SEC after the Tigers went 2-6 in their SEC debut: "It's a great league. I love being in the league. I like to compete against the best. We did the right thing. I think like anything else you have to prove yourself. We're hungry. I think we're very, very hungry. We're excited to get back in and compete."

SEC commissioner Mike Slive on the problems facing the NCAA and college sports: "As Albert Einstein once said, ‘We can't solve problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.' "

Freeze, asked if he started wearing visors because he admired Spurrier: "When I was a high school coach, I wanted to be like Steve Spurrier. That's the truth. Ever since then, Steve and I have become really good friends. He liked that story. He calls me his visor guy."

Muschamp on if he would like to see a defensive guy like South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney win the Heisman Trophy: "I'd like to see him come out early before our game."